Reiki Explained: Why It’s a Powerful Tool for Everyday Wellbeing
We all get into phases where we feel stuck, and as if we’re standing in our own way of progression. We often get held back by limiting beliefs, self-doubt, grief, heartache, and general emotional baggage we’ve been carrying for far too long. Let’s just say, we feel out of balance and not at ease. The scary part is that it’s easy to get sucked into the downward spiral of these blockages, and before we know it we’ve missed out on great opportunities and..life!
Based on personal experience, I was introduced to reiki at a similar phase of my life. It was the first time I was experiencing anxiety and burnout, and I felt like my physical health is going to suffer if I didn’t do something about my own mental health. Learning reiki for my own healing wasn’t short of transformational.
What is Reiki, Really?
Reiki is an ancient healing practice, dating back to Ancient Tiber and India, and later rediscovered in the 19th century in Japan.
The word “Reiki” literally translates into universal life force energy. It is the life energy that is present within each of us and that is present around us, in nature and everywhere else. It has a multitude of health benefits, as Reiki gently penetrates our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies.
Let’s look at just a few of its benefits:
1. Soothing Anxiety, Stress & Emotional Tension
Whether you are receiving Reiki from yourself or a professional practitioner, there is no arguing that Reiki puts you in a state of deep relaxation. This is why most of my clients during their sessions either fall asleep or get in the hypnagogic state between wakefulness and sleep. Healing can only take place when the body is relaxed. You may receive Reiki sitting up or laying down, flat on your back. Using light touch from the practitioner or yourself, the Reiki flows through our auric field and regulates our nervous system. It activates our parasympathetic nervous system, which is our body’s relaxed state.
As the body is not in fight-or-flight mode anymore, our muscles naturally begin to relax, our heartbeat slows down, and our digestion is stimulated. It is even said that Reiki aids people with high blood pressure, as it has a direct impact on our blood vessels and heart rate.
When we experience feelings of anxiety, anger, high stress, and danger, our body responds in the opposite way, which unfortunately can lead to more chronic illnesses if these feelings become our norm. It’s important to tune into this in our bodies, listen to any symptoms and take preventative measures.
2. Learning Self-Compassion
When we receive the Reiki, we open ourselves up to receiving its light and its healing. The energy flows exactly where it needs to, balancing, clearing, and unblocking areas in our physical and emotional bodies.
Even painful emotions that result from grief and heartbreak can begin to heal once exposed to receiving Reiki. With its healing powers, Reiki opens up our hearts to heal and to love. Only then can we begin to practice self-compassion, trust, and forgiveness for ourselves and others. It helps us better understand our emotions and enables us to release emotional traumas and fears. This may require more than one Reiki session, but the healing process of our emotional and mental health will already have begun.
3. Complementing Conventional Medicine
Modern medicine is one of the greatest advancements of our time—but it doesn’t always address the whole person. This is where Reiki comes in.
Think of Reiki as both a gentle prevention and a nurturing companion to treatment. I’ve worked with clients navigating depression, eating disorders, and even cancer treatment. Time and again, they return to Reiki for the calm, the clarity, and the relief it brings—not just to the body, but to the spirit.
Its effects may be difficult to measure by scientific tools, but many physicians now recommend Reiki as part of a holistic care approach, because they witness its benefits firsthand.
What to Expect in a Session
Every Reiki practitioner has their own style. Some incorporate sound bowls, crystals, pendulums, or aromatherapy. Some use light touch, while others may work just above the body within the auric field.
Sessions vary in length and rhythm. The best way to find what resonates is simply to explore—try different practitioners and follow what your body responds to, and ultimately, which one makes you feel good!
Give Yourself the Gift of Healing
Making space for your own healing—your rest, your release, your return to balance—is one of the most important things you can do. It’s not just for your sake, but for how you show up for your loved ones and for life.
Whether you’re feeling heavy with emotions, stuck in a cycle of stress, or simply curious to connect more deeply with yourself, Reiki might be the practice your body and mind have been waiting for.
